AN AIRLINE in talks over flying from Southend Airport to Germany has been grounded.

German budget airline OLT Express, which operated flights to Dresden and Saarbrucken before Christmas and was in talks to offer more flights from the airport this summer, has ceased operations due to a lack of ongoing funding.

Jonathan Rayner, head of busines development for Southend Airport, said: "OLT Express did operate a number of flights from London Southend Airport to Germany over the 2012/13 holiday and festive period, and we have been talks with them about further services from London Southend Airport in summer 2013.

“Unfortunately we now understand that the airline is no longer commercially viable and has ceased flying operations as of Sunday, January 27.”

No Southend Airport customers are believed to be affected by the loss of the airline.